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Feb. 3, 1931. H. .I. WHITE 1,791,049

POSITIVE ENGINE PRIMER Filed June 14, 1929 INVENTOR HENRYJ.WHITE. BY I I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HENRY J. WHITE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

POSITIVE ENGINE PRIMER Application filed June 14,

The present invention concerns internal combustion engines.

Considerable difficulty is experienced in starting internal combustion engines where mechanical or other forms of starting devices are lacking. This is particularly true of the engines of aircraft, of marine engines, and in fact of any and all engines in cold weather. As an aid in starting such engines it has heretofore been proposed to prime the engine by exploding in the one or more cylinders thereof a 'charge of powder or other explosive substance. In this respect such prior suggestions have a direct bearing on the invention herein disclosed.

The present invention contemplates the use of an explosive substance such as nitrocellulose, powder, gun cotton or the like, or a combination of such and other explosives of the desired intensity. Such explosive or explosives are not, however, introduced into the engine cylinder or other engine part in their natural or loose state as heretofore. Preferably the explosive or explosives are caked and treated so as to provide in effect a cartridge or capsule of explosive substance capable of being handled as a solid or compact mass. When required for use the explosive charge or cartridge is freely insertible, without disintegration and without packing, into the open inner end of the spark plug of the engine where it is firmly held by frictional contact with thespark plug wall. Thus positioned it (the cartridge) is fired and completely consumed, i. e., exploded by the spark produced at the spark plug gap in an engine starting operation. Preferably said mass or cartridge is so formed and compounded as to bring that portion thereof, more sensitive to firing than the remaining portion, either directly between the spark plug points or electrodes or in such proximity to the spark gap as to insure unfailing o eration when and as a spark is produced. n a single cylinder engine one such cartridge is sutficient to initiate the piston cycle whereas in a multicylinder engine the use of several cartridges (one for each cylinder) may be used. Being completely consumable, the engine crank; shaft, once in motion, is kept rotating by the 1929. Serial No. 370,942.

ensuing explosions produced by the ordinary firing in the firing chambers of the engine. In other words, the engine having been positively primed thru the explosion of the one or more cartridges, its continued running is effected thru the successive explosions obtained thru the use of the ordinary fuel.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like or corresponding parts,

F g. 1 is an elevation of a conventional type spark plug threaded in an engine cylinder, and having associated with it a priming cartridge or capsule of the character herein disclosed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge or capsule, and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, only that part of an engine cylinder 10 in the immediate vicinity of the spark plug opening 11 is shown. Within said opening a spark plug 12 of conventional form is threaded. The spark plug at its inner end is hollow, and within said hollow the electrodes or points 13 and 14 are disposed. The spark gap between the points 13 and 14 is as usual.

The cartridge or capsule, designated in its entirety as 15, is best illustrated in Fig. 2; It comprises an outer shell or casing 16 of 8 nitro-cellulose shaped at one end to snugly fit within the inner open end of the spark plug where it is frictionally held. To permit of its fitting engagement within said open spark plug end, said cartridge or capsule is shaped as at 17 to receive both electrodes, and hence completely surround the spark plug gap. Within the nitro-cellulose casing 16 a mass of powder or other similar explosive 18 is contained and compressed. Said mass 18 has extending off therefrom a tongue or protuberance 19 within which is embedded or otherwise contained a wisp of guncotton or the like; said tongue or protuberance in the finally adjusted position of the cartridge being adapted to fit between the electrodes or to lie in such proximity to the spark plug gap as to insure its unfailing ignition and explosion when and as a spark is produced at said gap. Preferably the tongue or protuberance 19 is carried at its inner end into the powder mass as shown.

A positive engine primer of the above character may be easily handled, and one or more such cartridges used for starting purposes should occasion demand. By providing a casing of nitro-cellulose or the like, the cartridges or capsules may be conveniently handled and used as indicated; the friction between said casing and the inner spark plug wall serving as a positive means for holding said cartridge in place. Being completely consumable, the cartridge, once exploded, interferes in no way with the successive explosions produced thru the burning of such ordinary engine fuel as gasoline or oil. Moreover, as an article of manufacture, the cartridge or capsule has a decided advantage in that it can be economically manufactured, freely used when and as required, and in an emergency, will insure starting even under the most adverse weather conditions.

While I have described'my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a positive primer for internal combustion engines comprising a completely consumable cartridge of explosive substance adapted for fitting engagement over the inner end of the spark plug of the engine to be fired by the spark produced at the gap between the spark plug joints.

2. As an article of manufacture, a positive primer for internal combustion engines comprising a completely consumable cartridge of explosive substance adapted to be inserted within the inner open end of the spark plug of the engine, and fired by the spark produced at the gap between the spark plug points.

3. As an article of manufacture, a positive primer for internal combustion engines comprising a more or less solid mass of completely consumable explosive substance adapted to be both inserted and frictionally held against the inner open end of the spark plug of the engine, and fired by the spark produced at the gap between the spark plug points.

4. As an article of manufacture, a positive primer for internal combustion engines comprising a more or less solid mass of completely consumable explosive substance adapted to be inserted within the inner open end of the spark plug of the engine, and fired by the spark produced at the gap between the spark plug points, said mass, in the immediate vicinity of said gap, being more sensitive to both ignition and explosion than 4 throughout the remaining portion thereof.

5. As an article of manufacture, a positive primer for internal combustion engines comprising a more or less solid mass of explosive substance adapted to be inserted and frictionally held against the innef open end of the spark plug of the engine, said mass having attached thereto, in the immediate vicin ity of the gap between the spark plug points, a projecting tongue more sensitive to explosion than said mass, which said tongue, and,

hence said mass, is adapted to be fired and consumed by the spark produced at said gap.

6. In an internal combustion engine, means for producing an explosion within the one or more cylinders thereof, independently of the normal fuel required to be used, and with the engine at rest, comprising an explosive cartridge or capsule adapted for fitting engagement over the inner open end of the spark plug of the engine so as to ignite and explode when and as a spark is produced at the gap between the spark plug points. i

7. In an internal combustion engine, means for producing an explosion within the one or more cylinders thereof independently of the normal fuel required to be used, and with the engine at rest, comprising an explosive.

8. In an internal combustion engine, means for producing an explosion within the one. or

more cylinders thereof independently of the normal fuel required to be used, and with the engine at rest, comprising an explosive cartridge or capsule insertible within the open inner end of the spark plug of the engine, adapted tobe ignited and exploded by the spark produced at the gap between the spark plug points, said cartridge or capsule having integrally associated with it a wisp of gun cotton or the like which, with the cartridge in place, lies between or in such close proximity to the spark gap as to render the firing thereof, and hence of the cartridge, unfailing when and as the spark is produced, said wisp of gun cotton or the like being held in place and the cartridge in its entirety made a compact mass by the use of a casing of completely consuma gzle material such as nitro-cellulose or the li e.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

HENRY 5. WHITE. 

